Govt to amend Prasar Bharti Act

New Delhi: Removal of the CEO of public
broadcaster Prasar Bharti will be easier under a legislation being introduced in the Parliament session beginning this month.

Reference to the Supreme Court will not be required for
the purpose once the amendments to the Prasar Bharti Act are
carried out, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni
said.

The government`s move comes in the backdrop of the
problems it encountered in the case of CEO B S Lalli who was suspended in the wake of allegations of financial
irregularities during the Commonwealth Games.

Soni said a Group of Ministers, a Parliamentary Standing
Committee and the Shunglu Committee set up to look into CWG
scam had given certain suggestions for better supervision of
Prasar Bharti.

One of the things which have been suggested is that a
Committee, headed by the Vice President and including the
Chairman of the Press Council of India and I&B Secretary,
should be set up to select as well as remove the Prasar Bharti
CEO, if required for "whatever reason".

"Under the present Act, there can be no supervision.
There is no contact. So keeping all those things in mind, we
have put together some amendments in the present act and have
sent it in the form of a cabinet note," she told reporters.

Asked whether the changes had been mooted because the
present Act gives sweeping powers to the CEO and the
government had faced problems in removing Lalli after his name
figured in the CWG scam, she said, "I am just saying that."